Nearly everyone in the industrialized world comes in contact with BPA on a daily basis. BPA has been in use for more than 30 years in a variety of consumer products including the lining of cans, baby bottles, dinnerware and dental sealant. BPA has been detected in nearly every human body fluid and can be found in rivers, soil, dust and even the air. Americans produce or consume an incredible volume of items containing bisphenol A with virtually no limits set for its use in consumer products.
Leading Scientists Have BPA ConcernsBPA products are cheap and durable, perhaps at a cost to human health. The bonds within BPA are not stable forever, eventually decaying and releasing bisphenol A into the items it contacts - of most concern are food and beverages. A 2005 study published in Environmental Health Perspectives by Centers for Disease Control (CDC) researchers reported that BPA was detected in 95% of urine from 400 adults. Chances are that if you are living in the U.S. you too have at least trace amounts of BPA in your system. Our exposure the BPA is so ubiquitous that an analysis by the Environmental Working Group found that 1 in 10 cans of food analyzed had bisphenol A levels considered unsafe by the government’s own safety limits for industrial chemicals.
In 2007 the use of BPA came into question after a group of 38 scientists sounded the alarm on the chemical’s potential health risks. Examination of the body of research on BPA led these scientists to the conclusion that there is “great concern” that the chemical could harm humans. Their conclusions are based on the review of over 700 studies conducted by respected academic, medical and government institutes such as the CDC and the National Institutes of Health. The list of potential health risks the studies indicate is shocking and extensive. Research in lab animals has shown that bisphenol A exposure causes an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, liver damage, cancer, miscarriage, infertility, Down’s syndrome and other birth defects. The data is so grim that as of 2004 nearly 100 studies demonstrated toxicity at even very low levels of BPA exposure.
FDA Declines BPA Regulation
Despite the mounting body of evidence against BPA the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has declined to regulate the chemical declaring that BPA is safe in limited amounts. In August of 2008 FDA scientists chose not to take the advice of the scientists that reviewed the enormous amount of research already conducted. The FDA reiterated their long-held stance: bisphenol A is not a risk to humans. The mountain of evidence against BPA grew even further in September when the first large study in humans concluded that the higher the level of BPA in adults the higher the rates of heart disease and diabetes. Researchers are hoping the new data persuades the FDA to take action.
Reassurances from the FDA long ago ceased to be enough for today's savvy consumer, and many aren’t taking a risk with their health. In 2007 Canada banned the use of BPA in baby bottles and will restrict its use in other products. At least 11 U.S. states are doing the same, including California, the first state to consider a ban of products with BPA. Corporate America has followed suit as well; companies such as Playtex, Nalgene and Walmart have announced that they will phase out products with BPA. Perhaps the lawmakers and corporations have figured out what the FDA has not - when 38 respected scientists agree on anything we should certainly stop to listen.
References:
Calafat, AM, Z Kuklenyik, JA Reidy, SP Caudill, J Ekong, LL Needham. Urinary Concentrations of Bisphenol A and 4-Nonylphenol in a Human Reference Population. Environmental Health Perspectives 113: 391-395 (2005)
Environment California. Bisphenol A Overview.< http://www.environmentcalifornia.org/environmental-health/stop-toxic-toys/bisphenol-a-overview > Accessed 2008 September 23.
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